I don't think I object as strongly as you do to the metaphor of the mirror; however, you are right to point out its inadequacies, and to insist that art must be part of the cultural environment in which it exists. Your tree metaphor is very good, and I can't improve on it.
The artistic practice has been compared to therapy or speech acts or self-expression, and a number of other things as well; but I like to tell people that what artists are doing, more than anything else, is emulating their Creator. We are created in the image of God; part of that image is to be creative.
Yes. The essay "On Fairy-Stories" includes this quote:
“Fantasy remains a human right: we make in our measure and in our derivative mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker.”
I enjoy recalling the observation our conductor made that 'Visual Art (painting, sculpture) decorates space, while Musical Art decorates time' - and for those of us in the Orchestra world, that's usually an *abstract* decoration of time. After encountering this article, I can think of film as definitely decorating both space and time...
Yes, if I believed art a mere matter of reflecting reality (whatever that is, precisely) I’d dedicate my life to punching myself fully in the face.
Love the tree metaphor, which allows for good/rotten fruit extension that speaks to William’s salient point. Also opens up richer discussion about influences on non/germination. Thanks Danny, I’ll be ruminating on...
I don't think I object as strongly as you do to the metaphor of the mirror; however, you are right to point out its inadequacies, and to insist that art must be part of the cultural environment in which it exists. Your tree metaphor is very good, and I can't improve on it.
The artistic practice has been compared to therapy or speech acts or self-expression, and a number of other things as well; but I like to tell people that what artists are doing, more than anything else, is emulating their Creator. We are created in the image of God; part of that image is to be creative.
I love that, William. There are, of course a million metaphors that partially work and few work as well as that one.
Re: your second paragraph, Tolkien famously called that subcreation.
Thank you Robert! I need to read more Tolkien, I guess!
Yes. The essay "On Fairy-Stories" includes this quote:
“Fantasy remains a human right: we make in our measure and in our derivative mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker.”
I enjoy recalling the observation our conductor made that 'Visual Art (painting, sculpture) decorates space, while Musical Art decorates time' - and for those of us in the Orchestra world, that's usually an *abstract* decoration of time. After encountering this article, I can think of film as definitely decorating both space and time...
Oh that works really well for me! Yes I believe I can handle that.
Yes, if I believed art a mere matter of reflecting reality (whatever that is, precisely) I’d dedicate my life to punching myself fully in the face.
Love the tree metaphor, which allows for good/rotten fruit extension that speaks to William’s salient point. Also opens up richer discussion about influences on non/germination. Thanks Danny, I’ll be ruminating on...
This idea of non-germination is haunting me right now, Adrian. One again, you've blown my mind.